John Malkovich's ' CASANOVA' Among 2014 San Sebastian Festival Official Selections

Bille August, Mia Hansen-Love, François Ozon, Christian Petzold, Michaël R. Roskam, Shim Sung-bo and Michael Sturminger will compete in the Official Selection at the 62nd edition of the San Sebastian Festival.

The competition for the Golden Shell at the coming San Sebastian Festival, running from September 19 to 27, unites the latest films by outstanding filmmakers on the international panorama. New titles to join them in the Official Selection will be announced next week.

CASANOVA VARIATIONS

CASANOVA VARIATIONS
Michael Sturminger (France - Austria - Germany)
John Malkovich stars in the unique project that captures the myth of the greatest seducer of all times, Casanova. Based on Histoire de ma vie by Giacomo Casanova and with arias from W.A. Mozart and Lorenzo Da Ponte. His story is told both through fiction and on-stage performances that unravel the tale of his adventures, his passions, and ultimately his fear of death.

THE DROP

THE DROP
Michaël R. Roskam (USA)
In his Hollywood debut, Belgian filmmaker Michaël R. Roskam (Bullhead) adapts a novel by Dennis Lehane in a film starring Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace and James Gandolfini in his last role for the cinema.The Drop takes an inside look at organized crime's use of local New York City bars as money-laundering "drops". When lonely Brooklyn bartender Bob Saginowski uncovers a drop of a different sort in the form of a battered pit bull puppy that he rescues from certain death, he comes into contact with Nadia, a mysterious woman hiding a dark past.

EDEN

EDEN
Mia Hansen-Løve (France)
In her latest film, moviemaker Mia Hansen-Løve recreates the French house period. In the 90's, French electronic music is developing at a fast pace. In the exciting Paris nightlife, Paul is taking his first steps as a DJ.

HAEMU / HAEMOO

HAEMU / HAEMOO
Shim Sung-bo (South Korea)
Bong Joon-ho co-writes and produces the directorial debut of Shim Sung-bo, screenwriter of Memories of Murder. A fishing ship's crew attempts to smuggle in illegal migrants which ends in a catastrophe with the crew driven into madness.

UNE NOUVELLE AMIE / THE NEW GIRLFRIEND

UNE NOUVELLE AMIE / THE NEW GIRLFRIEND
François Ozon (France)
The latest film by François Ozon, winner of the Golden Shell in 2012, is the tale of two women who have been friends since childhood. The two marry and one has a baby. Shortly afterwards, the mother falls seriously ill and makes her friend promise that she will take care of the baby and her husband. When she dies, the friend decides to visit the father and the baby, but a tremendous surprise awaits her.

PHOENIX

PHOENIX
Christian Petzold (Germany)
Christian Petzold, winner of the Silver Shell for Best Director at the Berlin Festival in 2012 with Barbara, presents in San Sebastián's Official Selection his new film, once again starring Nina Hoss. A singer was betrayed and sent to a concentration camp. She returns with her face completely disfigured and asks a distinguish surgeon to reconstruct it in order to regain her former appearance as closely as possible. Having recovered from the operation, she sets out to find her husband, a pianist. But their reunion will not go the way she expected.

STILLE HJERTE / SILENT HEART

STILLE HJERTE / SILENT HEART
Bille August (Denmark)
The prestigious Danish filmmaker Bille August, winner of an Academy Award and two Palme d'Or in Cannes, returns with a highly personal drama. Three generations of a family gather over a weekend. The sisters Sanne and Heidi have accepted their terminally-ill mother's desire to die before her disease worsens; but, as the weekend progresses, their mother´s decision becomes harder and harder to deal with, and old conflicts come to the surface.

Source: San Sebastian Festival